Cigarette paper box

ABSTRACT

The container includes a top case section that defines a top compartment configured to hold a standard package of cigarette rolling papers, and a bottom case section that defines a bottom compartment hingedly connected to a middle case section that acts as the floor of the top compartment and the lid of the bottom compartment. The middle case section may be subdivided into smaller storage regions by interior dividers. The middle case section may also include a latch configuration that secures both the top and bottom section of the case and each may be opened and closed individually. This allows access to either one of the compartments separately or both compartments simultaneously.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cigarette paper storage containers and,in particular, it concerns a container for holding a package ofcigarette paper together with a number of cigarette filters.

Even after the advent of manufactured cigarettes, many people stillprefer to roll their own cigarette. This provides the ability to custommake the cigarette to suit the smoker's personal preferences at thetime, such as tobacco blend and amount and the use of a filter.

Rolling one's own cigarette does present, however, several problems tothe smoker so inclined. Among these problems is the storage of thecigarette papers and filters in a way that also protects them fromdamage or being lost.

Various suggestions have been presented to overcome these problems.Among them is U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,488 to Gray, which discloses acigarette paper dispenser that stores the cigarette paper package in thelid with an outlet opening configured to allow access to the cigarettepapers with the dispenser closed. The Gray dispenser also has a storagecompartment for tobacco. While The Gray dispenser succeeds in protectingthe cigarette paper package, it fails to protect the individualcigarette papers that are exposed though the outlet opening.

There is therefore a need for a cigarette paper container that fullprotects the cigarette paper package and the individual cigarettepapers. It would be advantageous if the container were to providestorage for cigarette filters as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a container for holding a package of cigarettepaper together with a number of cigarette filters.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, acontainer of the storage of a cigarette paper package, the containercomprising: a) a middle case section having top and bottom surfaces; b)a first case section hingedly connected to the middle case section so asto be deployable between an open state and a closed state, such that inthe closed state the first case section abuts the top surface of themiddle case section, the first case section and the middle case sectiondefining between them a first storage compartment; c) a retentionarrangement configured to secure the cigarette paper package within thefirst storage compartment; and d) a second case section hingedlyconnected to the middle case section so as to be deployable between anopen state and a closed state, such that in the closed state the secondcase section abuts the bottom surface of the middle case section, thesecond case section and the middle case section defining between them asecond storage compartment.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, interiordimensions of the first storage compartment are substantially similar toexterior dimension of the cigarette paper package.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, each of themiddle case section, the first case section and the second case sectionhas a substantially rectangular outer contour such that the containerhas a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape when closed.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the first andsecond case sections are hingedly connected to the middle case sectionalong a hinge edge of the middle case section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, at least oneedge of the middle case section includes at least one projection thatextends from the middle case section in a direction that issubstantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the middle casesection, such that the projection forms a portion of a wall defining thesecond storage compartment.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the at leastone edge of the middle case section is an edge opposite the hinge edge.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the middlecase section includes a closure latch configured to engage correspondinglatching structures located on each of the first and second casesections, the latch configured to retain either one and both of thefirst and second case sections in their respective the closed state, andopening each of the first and second case sections is independentlyaffected.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the retentionarrangement includes retention protrusions configured on interiorsurfaces of walls of the first case section, the retention protrusionsextending into the first storage compartment so as to engage thecigarette paper package.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the retentionarrangement is associated with the middle case section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the retentionarrangement is associated with the first case section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the retentionarrangement includes and adhesive deployed on an interior surface of thefirst case section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the secondcase section is configured with at least one interior divider arrangedto divide the second storage compartment into a plurality small storageregions.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, at least oneof the plurality of small storage compartments is configured for thestorage of cigarette filters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first preferred embodiment of acontainer for holding a package of cigarette paper constructed andoperative according to the teachings of the present invention, shown inan open state;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown from adifferent point of view;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown in aclosed state;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a firstpreferred hinge arrangement;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a second preferred embodiment of acontainer for holding a package of cigarette paper constructed andoperative according to the teachings of the present invention, shown inan open state; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a third preferred embodiment of acontainer for holding a package of cigarette paper constructed andoperative according to the teachings of the present invention, shown inan open state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a container for holding a package of cigarettepaper together with a number of cigarette filters.

The principles and operation of a container for holding a package ofcigarette paper according to the present invention may be betterunderstood with reference to the drawings and the accompanyingdescription.

By way of introduction, the present invention provides a convenient wayto store and protect a package of cigarette rolling papers. Generallyspeaking, the container of the present invention includes a topcompartment configured to hold a standard package of cigarette rollingpapers, and a bottom compartment that may be subdivided into smallerstorage regions. Separating the two compartments is middle case sectionthat acts as the floor of the top compartment and the lid of the bottomcompartment. The middle case section may also include a latch thatsecures both the top and bottom section of the case and each may beopened and closed individually. This allows access to either one of thecompartments separately or both compartments simultaneously.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is of a first preferred embodimentof the present invention that illustrates the features of the containerfor storing a cigarette paper package, generally referred to herein as2. The top storage compartment 4 is defined by the top case section 6and the middle case section 8. The bottom storage compartment 12 isdefined by the bottom case section 10 and the middle case section 8.

In preferred embodiments, the interior dimensions, that is, the height,width and length, of the top compartment 4 are substantially similar tothe exterior dimensions of the cigarette paper package (not shown).Therefore, the top case section 6 has a substantially rectangular outercontour. The middle case section 8 and the bottom case section 10 areconfigured with a similar substantially rectangular outer contour suchthat the container has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shapewhen closed, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The top case section 6 is configured with retention protrusions 20 suchthat the cigarette paper package is held securely between the retentionprotrusions 20 and the inside surface 22 of the top case section 6 withthe paper dispensing opening of the cigarette paper package facing themiddle case section 8. It will be appreciated that although theretention protrusions 20 are illustrated here extending from the endwalls 24 of the top case section 6, it is within the scope of thepresent invention to configure retention protrusions 20 in any and allof the walls of the top case section 6.

Alternatively, the cigarette paper package may be secured to the topcase section 6 by an adhesive 30 deployed on the inside surface 22 ofthe top case section 6. It should be noted that the adhesive may bedeployed on substantially any suitable inside surface of top casesection 6 and in substantially any suitable pattern, and that theretention protrusions 20 and the adhesive 30 may be used in concert tosecure the cigarette paper package to the top case section 6.

In a further alternative configuration, the top case section 6 may beconfigured without retention protrusions 20, and the cigarette paperpackage may be attached to the top surface 32 of the middle case section8 by adhesive 34 with the paper dispensing opening of the cigarettepaper package facing into the top case section 6.

The middle case section 8 may include a closure latch 40 configured toengage corresponding latching structures 42 and 44 located on the top 6and bottom 10 case sections, respectively. The embodiment of a latch 40illustrated herein is configured to retain either one or both of the top6 and bottom 10 case sections in their respective closed state. Openingeach of the top 6 and bottom 10 case sections may be independentlyaffected. Therefore, access may be gained to only the top storagecompartment 4, only the bottom storage compartment 12, or both the top 4and bottom 12 storage compartments simultaneously.

The middle case section 8 may also include at least one, and preferablytwo as illustrated herein, projections 46 that extends from the middlecase section 8 in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to thebottom surface of the middle case section 8, such that the projections46 forms a portion to the wall the defines the bottom storagecompartment 12, by filling the corresponding cut-out areas 52 formed inwall 50 of the bottom case section 10. It should be noted that theformation of a combination of projections and cut-out areas in any ofthe non-hinged walls of the bottom case section 10 is within the scopeof the present invention.

The bottom case section 12 may include at least one interior divider 60that subdivides the bottom storage compartment 12 into a number ofsmaller storage regions 62. Preferably, the smaller storage regions 62are of a size that readily accepts a plurality of cigarette filters. Theembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is configured with one such interior divider60 and therefore has two smaller storage regions 62. The secondpreferred embodiment 2 a of FIG. 5 is configured with two such interiordividers 60 and therefore has three smaller storage regions 62. It willbe appreciated that the interior divider 60 may be configured as a fullwall as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, as a partial wall asillustrated in FIG. 5, and that a single bottom case section 12 mayinclude a combination of full and partial walls (not shown).

Preferably, the top case section 6 and the bottom case section 12 arehingedly attached to the middle case section 8 along one edge of themiddle case section 8. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the contain 2 includesa hinge arrangement 70 configured such that hinge section 72 hingedlyconnects the top case section 6 to the middle case section 8, and hingesection 74 hingedly connects the bottom case section 12 to the middlecase section 8.

The third preferred embodiment 2 c illustrated in FIG. 6, includes analternate hinge arrangement and an alternative closure latchconfiguration. Here, the middle case section 108 includes a side wall120 configured with a hinge pins 122 that pivotally connect to themiddle case section 108 through hinge apertures 124. The closure latchconfiguration of this embodiment includes latch pins 130 that releasablyengage closure apertures 132.

It will be appreciated that alternatively, an integrally formedcontainer, that is, a one piece container in which the top, middle andbottom case section are integrally form and interconnected by integrallyformed hinge portions, is within the scope of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only toserve as examples and that many other embodiments are possible withinthe spirit and the scope of the present invention.

1. A container of the storage of a cigarette paper package, thecontainer comprising: (a) a middle case section having top and bottomsurfaces; (b) a first case section hingedly connected to said middlecase section so as to be deployable between an open state and a closedstate, such that in said closed state said first case section abuts saidtop surface of said middle case section, said first case section andsaid middle case section defining between them a first storagecompartment; (c) a retention arrangement configured to secure thecigarette paper package within said first storage compartment; and (d) asecond case section hingedly connected to said middle case section so asto be deployable between an open state and a closed state, such that insaid closed state said second case section abuts said bottom surface ofsaid middle case section, said second case section and said middle casesection defining between them a second storage compartment.
 2. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein interior dimensions of said first storagecompartment are substantially similar to exterior dimension of thecigarette paper package.
 3. The container of claim 2, wherein each ofsaid middle case section, said first case section and said second casesection has a substantially rectangular outer contour such that thecontainer has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape whenclosed.
 4. The container of claim 3, wherein said first and second casesections are hingedly connected to said middle case section along ahinge edge of said middle case section.
 5. The container of claim 4,wherein at least one edge of said middle case section includes at leastone projection that extends from said middle case section in a directionthat is substantially perpendicular to said bottom surface of saidmiddle case section, such that said projection forms a portion of a walldefining said second storage compartment.
 6. The container of claim 5,wherein said at least one edge of said middle case section is an edgeopposite said hinge edge.
 7. The container of claim 1, wherein saidmiddle case section includes a closure latch configured to engagecorresponding latching structures located on each of said first andsecond case sections, said latch configured to retain either one andboth of said first and second case sections in their respective saidclosed state, and opening each of said first and second case sections isindependently affected.
 8. The container of claim 1, wherein saidretention arrangement includes retention protrusions configured oninterior surfaces of walls of said first case section, said retentionprotrusions extending into said first storage compartment so as toengage the cigarette paper package.
 9. The container of claim 1, whereinsaid retention arrangement is associated with said middle case section.10. The container of claim 1, wherein said retention arrangement isassociated with said first case section.
 11. The container of claim 1,wherein said retention arrangement includes and adhesive deployed on aninterior surface of said first case section.
 12. The container of claim1, wherein said second case section is configured with at least oneinterior divider arranged to divide said second storage compartment intoa plurality small storage regions.
 13. The container of claim 12,wherein at least one of said plurality of small storage compartments isconfigured for the storage of cigarette filters.